The Human Towers
- Words
- Caroline Kurze
‘The human towers’ (‘castells’ in Catalan) are traditionally built in festivities and competitions in the region of Catalonia, Spain. During these events each team (known as ‘colla’) builds and dismantles its own human towers. For their success, a crowded and stunning base of hundreds of people needs to be previously perfectly set up.
+ Read MoreThe ‘castells’ have also been one of the most important cultural traditions in Catalonia for more than 200 years and represent the essence of the Catalan culture and people. ‘Strength, balance, courage and common sense’ is their motto.
During the last Human Tower Competition David Oliete shot these pictures. From a nearly aerial position you see hundreds of man women and children gathering at that place and pushing forward to build up human towers. It is a claustrophobic mass and a series of intriguingly different pictures.
All images © David Oliete
